From wood fired and honey-soaked to hot and fresh… Boise’s got bagels. You just have to know what you’re looking for.
Each bagel brings something of value to the table in this week’s story. Put them together and you have a list of all the best bagels in the Boise area!
Good Times Bagels
Owners Ashlee and Kale fell in love with hand rolled, wood fired bagels and, in turn, each other. They saw a need for not only bagels they love, but also a shared common space where people feel connected.
Inspired by Montreal-style bagels, these bagels are boiled in honey water and baked in a wood fired oven. They’re just as lovely as they sound. The coffee is also incredible (highly recommend the Brown Sugar Latte)! They share the building with Form & Function, who roasts all of their coffee onsite.
They’re located at 2422 W Main St and open from 7:30-2:30pm Tuesday-Sunday.
Good Times is the perfect spot to get connected (the wood fired oven is pretty sweet, too!).
Goldstein’s Bagels & Bialys
Goldstein’s is Boise’s answer to a New York-style bagel shop. They serve up traditional boiled bagels and bialys (a bagel’s lesser-known but equally delicious cousin). Their house-made schmears, smoked salmon, and hot pastrami sandwiches are also on the menu.
They’re located on 611 S 8th St in Boise and open from 7am-3pm daily.
Goldstein’s is your place if you’re looking for a bagel that’s simple and classic. Fuhgeddaboudit!
Blue Sky Bagels
With the most locations in town, Blue Sky is great when you need a quick and reliable bagel fix. Their service is fast and their menu is stacked with grab-and-go options. I almost always get a Parmesan bagel with all the veggies, sun-dried tomato cream cheese, and honey mustard. Their soups are also delicious, too (the creamy chicken poblano has my heart, when they have it). This was my go-to spot in college!
They’re located at 407 W Main St in Boise, 12375 W Chinden Blvd in Boise, 5517 W State St in Garden City, and 3161 E Fairview Ave in Meridian. Open from 6:30am-5pm and Sunday from 7am-4pm.
Blue Sky has you covered if you need a bagel you can count on.
Freedom Bagel Bakery
Technically not in Boise… but it’s too good to leave off the list. Located in Meridian, Freedom Bagel Bakery brings old-school New York bagel methods to the Treasure Valley, with a modern, all-natural twist.
Owner and bagel baker John Heintzberger spent 20+ years working in agriculture before pivoting to bagels. He even got specialized training in the New York bagel scene to provide the highest quality bagels to the Treasure Valley. The result? Chewy, crusty, artisan-style bagels that are made fresh daily and taste like a labor of love.
They’ve also got house-made cream cheeses and creative bagel sandwiches that go way beyond the basics. It’s a bit of a bagel renaissance, honestly.
You can find Freedom Bagel Bakery at 1450 E Fairview Ave #101 in Meridian, open from 7am–2pm daily.
Freedom Bagel Bakery is the place for true bagel heads who care about quality, technique, and a damn good sandwich.
Sarah’s Bagel Cafe
Hidden in plain sight yet somehow managing to stay off the radar, this is Boise’s version of an underground bagel shop. Their menu is loaded with options, but a good bacon, egg, and cheese never gets old. This one is the best in town with crispy bacon, melty cheese, fluffy egg, a chewy inside, and golden exterior.
I asked the owners if they wanted to be in any photos, they didn’t. I expected that. It’s part of the story and what makes this spot so special. It’s just about good bagels, plain and simple.
They also have tons of drink options and a whole counter of killer-looking pastries (I haven’t had the chance to try them yet). Did I mention the bagels come out steaming???
They have three locations, all of which are open 8am-6pm Monday-Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday & Sunday:
- 840 W Idaho St in Boise (in the heart of Downtown)
- 450 S Meridian Rd in Meridian
- 509 12th Ave Rd in Nampa.
Sarah’s Bagel Cafe is the go-to place for a bacon, egg, and cheese. If that’s your perfect bagel, then you know exactly what you’re looking for.
